L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long
as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has
the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a
plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice. She is the author of the Winged series, the
Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and
Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.

Interview

Where are you from?

--I’m from Florida, north Florida to be exact. We’re
often referred to as south Georgia, we’re so close to the state line.

Tell us your latest news?

--I’m about to begin work on the second book in my thriller
series, The Andersons. I’m also gearing up for the release of Silk and to
attend the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas in June.

When and why did you begin writing?

--I started professionally writing close to five
years ago. As to why, I believed—and still do—that I have stories to tell and
people would like to read.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

--Maybe ten years ago, I decided to write a book—not
just write it, but finish it. It was the first book I ever actually finished.
It was pretty horrible but I did finish. It was the first time I actually
thought, “This is something I want to do all the time.”

What inspired you to write your first book?

--Like I mentioned above, it was really the desire
to see if I could do it. After that, and after I realized how not good it was,
I took some time to really study the craft and mechanics of writing before
attempting to write another book. That second book went through numerous drafts
but eventually became the book that would be my debut release.

Do you have a specific writing style?

--I would say my style is very dry, very
straightforward, and very sarcastic.

How did you come up with the title?

--Honestly, it just popped in my head. The title,
along with the first line of the book, just popped in my head and would not
stop running around until I started working on the book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?

--Honestly, no. When I started writing Silk, I just
wanted to tell the story of “the murder tree”. I would actually be interested
in finding out what other people the message to be.

How much of the book is realistic?

--This is a difficult question to answer. Silk is
set in the real world—in Georgia, to be precise—so there is a great deal of
realism in that sense, although the town itself is fictional. The crimes are
also fictional, without any basis in the real world. Other aspects, such as the
effects of electroshock therapy and drug use, PTSD, and the difficulties of
small town law enforcement, are relatively accurate.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events
in your own life?

--For once, no. All the characters and events that
occur are fictional.

What books have most influenced your life most?

--I always say that Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, was highly
influential. I read it when I was 14 and it was the first book I read which
managed to be absolutely terrifying without being supernatural—by which I mean
there was a scientific answer for everything which occurred. When I started
moving in to darker areas of fiction, Preston and Child and their early work
was my reference.

If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor?

--In addition to Preston and Child, I would say
Gillian Flynn and her work has been very inspiring. She really brought forth
the idea of the female antihero and the idea that a female character doesn’t
have to be likeable in order for readers to connect and empathize with her.

What book are you reading now?

--I’m actually rereading Relicright now. It’s one of my go-to books
for when I don’t know what to read.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your
interest?

--Paula Hawkins, the author of The Girl on the Train. Amazing writer.

What are your current projects?

--I’m going to start work on the sequel to The
Andersons as well as some online things.

What would you like my readers to know?

Silk is my first foray in to horror/mystery/thriller
and as such is something I’m especially proud to have written. Hopefully, you
enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.